Food Dish With Abutment to Drinking Glass Top

ABSTRACT

A dish with a body having an upper surface comprising a first material suitable to contact food and a lower surface. The dish also has a member attached to the lower surface where the member includes a second material, differing from the first material, and where the member has at least one dimension that is between two and four inches so as to abut to a circle having a diameter of four inches or less.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present embodiments relate to food dishes and are more preferably directed to dishes for use in combination with a drinking glass, such as a champagne or wine glass.

Certain meals or social gatherings often bring together good times with food and beverages, and many of these occasions involve the use of certain glassware including dishes and glasses. In many instances, the dishes include small plates and the glasses are used to serve beverages such as wine or champagne. At events of this sort, participants often desire to partake in all of these offerings, and typically find themselves holding a dish with one hand and a glass with another. These activities therefore occupy both of the person's hands, whereupon the person is required to place either the dish, the glass, or both down in order to further serve themselves or to otherwise free a hand for various uses, such as a gesture, a handshake, a touch, or the like.

The present inventors have discovered an apparatus and method for improving upon the above contexts. Such inventive aspects are borne out in the preferred embodiments, as discussed below.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one preferred embodiment, there is a dish with a body having an upper surface comprising a first material suitable to contact food. The dish also has a lower surface and a member attached to the lower surface, where the member includes a second material, differing from the first material, and where the member has at least one dimension that is between two and four inches so as to abut to a circle having a diameter of four inches or less.

Other embodiments and aspects are also disclosed and claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view that is generally from above a dish according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view that is generally from the side of a dish according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view that is generally from below a dish according to a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view from below a drinking glass and that depicts the top of the glass abutting with a lower surface of a dish according to a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view that is generally from above a dish 10 according to a preferred embodiment. The dish 10 may be formed from various materials as in known in the art, such as porcelain, ceramic, glass, and metal, by ways of example. The perspective of FIG. 1 illustrates that the dish 10 includes an upper surface 10 _(US) that includes a center area 10 _(C) and that is suitable to contact food, such as by way of the material used to form the dish 10. While not shown, decorative elements or images also may be formed along or in upper surface 10 _(US). In a preferred embodiment, the dish 10 has equal length sides, or a span from one edge to an opposing edge, in the range of four to five inches (e.g., 4⅝″). Also in the preferred embodiment, the dish 10 includes rounded corners 12 ₁ through 12 ₄, each curved upward so that the edges between each pair of such corners is also turned slightly upward relative to the center area 10 _(C) of the dish 10, and thereby creating an overall concave nature of the dish 10 relative to a surface (not shown) upon which the dish 10 is set. Given these attributes, one skilled in the art should appreciate that items set upon the dish 10, such as small food items, appetizers, and the like, are more likely to be retained along the upper surface 10 _(US) of the dish 10 as compared to a flat plate. In alternative embodiments, such a retaining aspect may be achieved through other means, such as by including a raised ridge or the like near the outside perimeter of the dish, and in still another alternative a flat surface may be created.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view that is generally from the side of the dish 10 of FIG. 1. Thus, FIG. 2 includes various aspects illustrated in connection with FIG. 1, including the center 10 _(C) and the rounded (and upward turned) corners 12 ₁ through 12 ₄. The side perspective of FIG. 2 also illustrates, however, that the dish 10 preferably includes on its lower surface a bezel 14 that is formed by a raised ridge extending downward relative to center 10 _(C). As further shown in FIG. 3 and described below, the bezel 14 in the preferred embodiment is preferably circular in shape and protrudes a distance of approximately 1/16 inch along its inner edge and downward from the underside of center 10 _(C). As also further explored below, the perspective of FIG. 2 illustrates that a gasket 16, preferably formed of a material differing from that of the dish 10, is attached to the dish 10, such as by way of an adhesive, and the gasket 16 extends downward and away from the dish 10 beyond the extent to which the bezel 14 extends. The materials and dimensions of the gasket 16 are further explored below.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view that is generally from the side of the dish 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, FIG. 3 depicts a lower surface 10 _(LS) of the dish 10, including the center area 10 _(C) and the lower surface portions of the rounded corners 12 ₁ through 12 ₄. FIG. 3 also fully illustrates the preferably circular bezel 14, which in the perspective of FIG. 3 is understood to be upward from the two-dimensional nature of the page on which the Figure is printed. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the circle defined by the bezel 14 is in the range of 3¼ to 3¾ inches in diameter, with a preferred example of approximately 3½ inches, and recall from the discussion of FIG. 2 that the bezel 14 extends approximately 1/16 inch away from the dish material. FIG. 3 also further illustrates the gasket 16 and that it is preferably located interior to the area defined by the circular bezel 14; thus, in the preferred embodiment, the outer perimeter of the gasket 16 has the same shape (i.e., circular in the illustrated example) as the bezel 14 and may have a slightly reduced outside diameter or dimension as compared to the interior dimension (e.g., diameter) of the bezel 14, so that the bezel 14 may be used for alignment of the gasket 16 relative to the remainder the of dish 10 during manufacture or so as to retain the gasket 16 in place and from any significant movement after manufacture. In a preferred embodiment, from the outer perimeter of the gasket 16, the material of the gasket 16 extends at least ⅝ inches radially inward from bezel 14; thus, in the example of FIG. 3, the gasket 16 is an annulus in shape, that is, represented by two concentric circles with the outer circle having a diameter of approximately 3¼ inches and the inner circle having a diameter of 2 inches or less. Also in the preferred embodiment, however, the material forming the gasket 16 is of a depth that is greater than the extent that the bezel 14 extends away from the remaining material of the dish 10; thus, in the above example wherein the bezel 14 extends approximately 3/32 inch away from the dish material, then the gasket 16 is at least 1/16 inch deep (i.e., ⅛ inch depth of the gasket 16 is greater than the 1/16 inch extension of bezel 14 away from the dish 10). Therefore, gasket 16 is in effect a toroid in shape and forms the lowermost surface upon which the dish 10 rests when it is placed atop another surface or contact area, as further explored below in connection with FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 illustrates the dish 10 and further demonstrates a preferred method of using the dish 10 in combination with a drinking glass G (or other vessel with a rim, such as a cup or bowl). Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view from below the drinking glass G and it also depicts the upper rim R_(G) of the glass G abutting with the gasket 16 attached to the lower surface 10 _(LS) of the dish 10. In preferred embodiments, the drinking glass G may be any type of vessel for holding a beverage or the like. For reasons demonstrated below, preferably the perimeter of the upper rim R_(G) of the drinking glass G has a dimension that fits within the area provided by the gasket 16.

A preferred embodiment methodology for using the dish 10, for example in combination with the glass G, is now described. In use, preferably the upper rim R_(G) of the drinking glass G is brought into abutting contact with the surface 16 _(S) (see also, FIG. 3) of gasket 16, where typically such contact would be in the orientation shown in FIG. 4 such that, in effect, the dish 10 is balanced upon the upper rim R_(G) of the glass G. In FIG. 4, therefore, the glass G is presented as transparent, so the reader may view the entire perimeter of the upper rim R_(G) of the glass G as it contacts the gasket 16. Now that one skilled in the art may appreciate this preferred orientation, a further understanding should be provided of the preference that the perimeter of the upper rim R_(G) of the drinking glass G has a dimension that fits within the area defined and provided by the gasket 16; this dimension ensures that the upper rim R_(G) of the glass G will fully contact the surface 16 _(s) of gasket 16 when the drinking glass G and the dish 10 are brought together as shown. In a common example, therefore, where the drinking glass G represents, for example, a champagne or wine glass, the entire perimeter of the upper rim R_(G) is circular and therefore will mate and abut with the surface 16 _(S) of the gasket 16, so long as the material of the annulus of the gasket 16 is sufficiently wide (i.e., radially between its two concentric circles) to present a range that will accommodate the perimeter of the drinking glass G. For example, with the dimensions given above, whereby the gasket 16 is an annulus with an outer circular perimeter of 3¼ inches and an inner circle perimeter of 2 inches or less, then the abutment of the dish 10 to the drinking glass G may be accomplished in FIG. 4 so long as the upper rim R_(G) of the drinking glass 10 likewise has a diameter between 3¼ and 2 inches. Note further that with the abutting relationship illustrated in FIG. 4, in alternative embodiments the dimensions of the annulus of the gasket 16 may be adjusted to accommodate other glasses, such as, for example, a glass with up to a four inch diameter for its upper rim, whereby the annulus shape would likewise include an outer diameter of at least four inches.

Note further that the cooperative and abutting relationship illustrated in FIG. 4 further introduces further aspects of the gasket 16. As one aspect, the preferred materials used to provide the gasket 16 may be a selected material, typically different than the material used to form the dish 10, and which is more particularly suited to facilitate the safe and effective fitted relationship with the upper rim R_(G) of the glass G while also being able to be cleaned and to ensure sufficient hygiene in that it will contact the upper rim R_(G) of the glass G. In more specific detail, therefore, in one example the material used for the gasket 16 is ethylene vinyl acetate (also known as EVA or sometimes foam rubber or expanded rubber), a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate that approaches elastomeric materials in softness and flexibility, yet can be processed like other thermoplastics. As another aspect of the gasket 16, while a preferred embodiment includes an annulus shape that has an outer diameter of approximately four inches so as to accommodate a glass rim of four inches or less, alternative shapes may be used where at one dimension across the gasket (i.e., from one edge to the other) is four inches or less, again so as to accommodate an abutting relation to a glass rim of four inches or less. Such an alternative, therefore, could include a square gasket, where each side of the square is four inches and of course, therefore, the diagonal of that square is larger than four inches.

Given the preceding, one skilled in the art may now further appreciate the use of the dish 10 in an environment that includes, for example, both food and drink. In such an instance, the glass G may be filled with a desirable beverage while food items, garnishes, or the like may be placed upon the upper surface 10 _(US) of the dish 10; in addition, the dish 10 may be oriented to rest upon the glass G by abutting the surface 16 _(S) of the gasket with the upper rim R_(G) of the drinking glass 10. Thus, a person may carry, move, transport, stand with, or set upon a table or the like, the collective balancing assembly of the combination of the dish 10 atop the glass G. In this manner, the person while holding the assembly may be afforded free use of one of their hands, and while the assembly is at rest upon a table or the like then less surface area is consumed as compared to placing the dish 10 and the glass G separately on such a table. Note also that various preferred embodiment aspects further facilitate the methodology described above. For example, the length dimensions of the dish 10 provide for an area that is suitable for foods (e.g., appetizers) while not becoming unruly in span or attempted balance. As another example, the upward rounded corners 12 ₁ through 12 ₄ of the dish 10 provide additional apparatus for retaining food on the upper surface 10 _(US) while a person maneuvers with the assembly of the dish 10 atop the glass G, thereby giving the person greater confidence in movement while certain assurance that food on the dish 10 is less likely to fall or be spilled. As another example, the size range provided for the toroid shape of the gasket 14 is sufficient to accommodate most typical beverage glasses. Note, however, that such ranges may be further adjusted by one skilled in the art given the inventive teachings herein. In addition, a toroid is preferable for the gasket 16 in certain embodiments, for example as it may facilitate greater efficiency in hand cleaning the dish 10 and also provides an aperture in its center so that insignia or the like may be placed at the center of the lower surface 10 _(LS) of the dish 10 and still be viewed through the aperture, while still providing the abutting structure to accommodate the upper rim R_(G) of the glass G. In an alternative embodiment, however, the gasket 16 may be disk shaped, that is, with no aperture in its center.

The present embodiments have been shown to relate to food dishes and are more particularly to dishes for use in combination with a drinking glass, such as a champagne or wine glass. While various alternatives have been provided according to preferred embodiments, still others are contemplated and yet others may be ascertained by one skilled in the art. For example, while certain dimensions and shapes have been described, one skilled in the art may find suitable alternatives under certain circumstances. As another example, certain materials also may be altered by one skilled in the art. Given the preceding, therefore, one skilled in the art should further appreciate that while the present embodiments have been described in detail, various substitutions, modifications or alterations could be made to the descriptions set forth above without departing from the inventive scope, as is defined in part by claims below. 

1. A dish, comprising: a body having an upper surface comprising a first material suitable to contact food and a lower surface; and a member attached to the lower surface and comprising a second material, differing from the first material, wherein the member has at least one dimension that is between two and four inches so as to abut to a circle having a diameter of four inches or less; wherein the body has a lower surface opposite the upper surface; wherein the lower surface comprises a continuous raised ridge; wherein the member is aligned within an interior area of the continuous raised ridge; and wherein the member has a depth greater than a depth of the continuous raised ridge whereby the member provides a lowermost surface, beyond the continuous raised ridge, upon which the dish will rest when the dish is placed atop a contact area.
 2. The dish of claim 1 wherein the member comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.
 3. The dish of claim 1 wherein the member comprises an annulus having an outer diameter of four inches or less and an inner diameter of two inches or more.
 4. The dish of claim 1 wherein the member comprises an annulus having an outer diameter of five inches or less and an inner diameter of two inches or more.
 5. The dish of claim 1 wherein the upper surface comprises upward turned corners.
 6. The dish of claim 1 wherein the upper surface comprises a concave surface. 7-8. (canceled)
 9. The dish of claim 1 wherein the continuous raised ridge presents a circular shape on the lower surface.
 10. The dish of claim 1 wherein the member comprises foam.
 11. The dish of claim 1 wherein the member comprises rubber.
 12. The dish of claim 1 wherein a first edge of the dish is within five inches of an opposing second edge of the dish.
 13. The dish of claim 1 wherein the body has equal length edges, wherein each edge is five inches or less.
 14. The dish of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a circle having a diameter of five inches or less.
 15. A method of abutting a dish and a beverage vessel, comprising: placing food on an upper surface of a body of the dish, the dish comprising a first material suitable to contact the food and the dish further comprising a lower surface, wherein the lower surface comprises a continuous raised ridge; and abutting a rim of the beverage vessel to a member attached to the lower of the dish, wherein the member is aligned within an interior area of the continuous raised ridge and has a depth greater than a depth of the continuous raised ridge whereby the member provides a lowermost surface, beyond the continuous raised ridge, upon which the dish will rest when the dish is placed atop a contact area; wherein the second material differs from the first material; and wherein the member has at least one dimension that is between two and four inches so as to abut to the rim of the vessel.
 16. The method of claim 15 and further comprising moving the dish and the beverage vessel from a first location to a second location with the rim abutted to the member.
 17. The method of claim 15 and further comprising dispensing a beverage into the beverage vessel.
 18. The method of claim 15 wherein the beverage vessel comprises a circular upper rim having a perimeter between two and four inches.
 19. The dish of claim 1 wherein the continuous raised ridge has an interior perimeter shape matching an outside perimeter shape of the member.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the continuous raised ridge has an interior perimeter shape matching an outside perimeter shape of the member. 